Photographer of the Year

PHOTOGRAPHER

of the Year

“An outstanding portfolio which covers every aspect of horse racing and the photographer’s art, the Epsom buses shot a classic of its kind”

DAVID DAVIES (Press Association)

“A superb portfolio with a great use of colour, the brooding sky shot Turneresque, the horses on the beach another excellent picture”

PATRICK MCCANN (Racing Post)

“A fine set, every picture thought through in detail, exemplified by the shadow on the brickwork, the shot through the grass perfectly captured”

TIM GOODE (Press Association)

“A strong set of pictures, the silks photo simple yet a perfect piece of history, the Cheltenham remote outstanding of its type”

EDWARD WHITAKER (Racing Post)

THE NOMINATIONS

DAVID DAVIES

How long have you been a photographer for?

I secured a job in a darkroom in 1989 whilst doing a photography course, and I blagged my way out of the darkroom on occasions by saying I’d got to go and continue taking pictures to finish my course (even though I hadn’t!) and that enabled me to start taking photos at various horse racing, golf and cricket events. I basically worked my way up from there.

What is the favourite photo you have taken?

Sentimentally, the one I took of the sunrise, which is in the portfolio I entered this category with, was nice as my mum passed away in February and it was a photo she loved. I won the specialist portfolio prize at the SJA Awards this year and I wasn’t going to enter it, but Mum was well enough then and encouraged me to, and she picked the photos I entered with one of them being the sunrise photo.

What makes a good photo?

It depends on what you are going for. It can be a moment – AP McCoy celebrating Grand National success with the winning post in the background being an example - or something you have thought through. Personally, I prefer something that is creative and interesting, something that you want to keep looking at. The light and background makes a big difference, too.

Favourite part of the job?

Working through an idea, and making it work. An example is when I saw a view of the Grand National course on TV that I liked, which was of the straight with the stands in the background, so the following year, ahead of the Grand National, I walked down the track, found the TV tower and clamped a camera up there to capture the view that I had seen on the TV. I’d never seen a picture like it before, and it was pleasing that it worked.

What would it mean to you to win this award?

It would mean a lot. You have to respect the longevity of this sport and these awards. To have the recognition from your colleagues is everything as we all work very hard, and all try to get the best pictures.

THE NOMINATIONS

TIM GOODE

How long have you been a photographer for?

I’ve worked for the PA since 2012 but I didn’t start out as a photographer, I started out as a picture editor, and I’ve been a professional photographer since 2010. It was always my ambition to become a photographer since I was given a camera as a birthday present at the age of 14, and although it took me a while to get there, it’s what I always wanted to do.

What is the favourite photo you have taken?

I get asked this question quite often and although I don’t have specific favourites, I do have pictures that mean a lot to me in terms of what they have done for my career. My job is so varied that you can have favourite scenic photos, or photos that show off a particular racecourse, but I love the variety racing offers when taking pictures.

What makes a good photo?

It shouldn’t need any explanation, or caption on it, and it should immediately jump out at you. Whether it’s a picture of a rainy racecourse or a picture from the football in Qatar, it should make you feel like you are there, almost inside the picture.

Favourite part of the job?

It’s the fact that it changes all the time from day to day, season to season, and even from race to race as the sun can be out one minute, and then it’s raining the next! You’ve always got to be ready for pictures to present themselves.

What would it mean to you to win this award?

I’m just happy to be in the mix with these photographers who I have learned so much from over the years, especially from my colleague, David Davies. I can’t even think about winning as I’m just so happy to be among a list with these other three photographers, but I will probably be lost for words if I did win!

THE NOMINATIONS

PATRICK MCCANN

How long have you been a photographer for?

I’ve been working for the Racing Post for 12 years, but my father was a racing photographer and I used to go with him from when I was a young age. I was working freelance with him and carried on when he stopped before moving to Ireland in 2010 to work for the Racing Post.

What is the favourite photo you have taken?

Usually with your best photos, you still want to change something, but the rainbow shot I took at Bellewstown Racecourse, which won Picture of the Year in 2016, is one that I wouldn’t change. There’s lots to look at in that picture, and it’s the one I would choose, but it’s hard to narrow it down to one.

What makes a good photo?

I suppose one that makes people look twice and makes them want to ask more questions. I’m always trying to find a quiet moment that might have been missed on a busy race day and try to capture horses getting washed down, and that sort of thing. Something unique, and something that stands out is always good.

Favourite part of the job?

Getting paid to go racing! Everyone in the industry loves to go racing and I also enjoy visiting some of the best yards in the country, and even some of the smaller ones, too. The variety of racing each week keeps you excited and it’s great to meet people in the industry, especially some of the brilliant characters of the game!

What would it mean to you to win this award?

I love these awards and when you first get into the industry, and read about these awards in the Racing Post, you think “that’ll never be me”, so you pinch yourself when you get nominated for these categories alongside some brilliant photographers. I lost my father this year, and he always got a great kick out of seeing me nominated for an award, so it will be sentimental.

THE NOMINATIONS

EDWARD WHITAKER

How long have you been a photographer for?

I’ve been with the Racing Post for 35 years, but I started photography when I was about 15 years old. My father, James Whitaker, was royal correspondent for the Daily Mirror, and had been in journalism all his life, but I was more drawn to the visual side of it. When I left school, I did a NCTJ photo-journalism course and managed to win the young photojournalist of the year award when the Racing Post was just starting out. I was doing a bit of freelance work for them before I was offered a full-time role, and I’ve been there ever since!

What is the favourite photo you have taken?

One photo that helped elevate my career when I was young was a picture of Arazi winning at the Breeders’ Cup in 1991. It was the first time I’d ever used a remote camera and I positioned it down in the dirt, so it was looking up at the horses, and fired it remotely. Everyone at work went crazy over this picture and it was so well received. Arazi’s victory was possibly the greatest performance by any horse I have ever seen, too, even including Flightline’s recent Breeders’ Cup win.

What makes a good photo?

Light, composure, and something that is dramatic. It must also be beautifully clean, and by that I mean so the subject is really pinging out of the image, with no distractions in the background of the picture. It has also got to be pin-sharp and bold.

Favourite part of the job?

Covering the big horse racing events abroad and seeing racing in different places. Working at the Breeders’ Cup is one of my favourite trips each year.

What would it mean to you to win this award?

It would be really good to win this award for the tenth time. There are lots of very good photographers I work with, and it would be great to reach a new milestone.